Erangey marks Crossflatts debut with crucial goal

VILLAGE kept their promotion hopes alive with a battling win over a well-organised Park side at the Crossflatts Recreation Ground.

The bobbly pitch proved to be a leveller in a goalless first half as both sides struggled to retain possession.

Village assistant manager Les Cooper asked for more composure from his players at half-time and they responded by taking control in the second period.

Colin Schofield opened the scoring for Flatts after 65 minutes. Craig Morris's left-flank cross caused chaos in the Westwood back-line and Schofield came in off the right wing to poke home from two yards.

Cooper then brought Connor Erangey on for his Village debut to replace James Gill with ten minutes to go and he had an immediate impact with his pace and movement.

The away side pressed for an equaliser and had a very strong appeal for a penalty turned down in the 88th minute, but referee Nick Coleman wasn't having any of it.

Instead, Village counter-attacked excellently to double their lead. The impressive Lewis Morgan played the ball out to Michael Garnett who held the ball up and played it through to Erangey, who ran through into the box and fired home to make it 2-0 - with the away side still appealing for the penalty deep inside in the Flatts half.

Park were then awarded a penalty when Village right-back George Clark was judged to have handled in the box, and the penalty was by dispatched by Danny Farrar with a minimum of fuss. The referee then blew his whistle immediately after the restart and Flatts celebrated a hard-earned victory.

Cooper was relieved to get the three points, despite his side being not at their best.

He said: "There's no doubt that we have played a lot better in other games but we got there in the end. We were a bit better in the second half and we deserved the victory.

"I asked for a bit more from our players in the second half and they didn't let me down. The pitch didn't help either side but we got the win and that's all that matters.

"Our last two games have been called off so it's good to get a match under our belts as we head into to the business end of the season."

Flatts centre back Matthew Morgan was awarded the man-of-the-match award after a solid game at the heart of the defence with his brother Lewis Morgan.

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